Deep Shoes For Kids With High Insteps – How To Make Sure Your Kids’ Feet Are Fitting Properly Inside The Shoes

I decided to write an article about deep shoes for children since I have been contacted by several parents the have noticed how their children’s heel sometimes don’t sit all the way down in the shoes. Below you can find a conversation of a parent who was dealing with this issue and we were able to solve it by finding deeper shoes for her child.

Hello Juan,

I found your website while googling “toddler heel doesn’t reach sole of boot”. I didn’t find the answer to my question, but your site is very helpful! So, I decided to email you to see if you can offer any guidance or point me in the direction of someone who can help.

For the second year in a row, my daughter’s foot will not go all the way down into her winter boots. Last year we got her baby bogs and I realized after she had them for a while that her foot wasn’t all the way down when she walked.

This year we tried to get her a pair of See Kai Run winter boots (same brand as her sneakers). The same thing is happening. When I feel the outside of the boot, her heel is up inside. She was fitted by a salesperson at two different stores (second store put her in a Kamik snowbug3). Even when we put the strap extremely tight around the ankle, her foot is still up inside the boot.

We tried to size up, but it didn’t help. Do we need to find out whether her feet are narrow or wide? I am also not sure whether she has a high instep or a high arch, and how these factors could be affecting the way the shoes fit.

Do you recommend that we see a podiatrist? Is this normal? She does toe walk but mostly at home barefoot.

Well, thank you in advance for any guidance you can offer.

Regards,

Mary Lane, mom to a 2-year 7-month girl who started walking at 9 months.

Hello Mary,

Good thing you noticed!

From what you have told me, it’s highly likely that your daughter has a high instep. You don’t have to stress over this too much and you don’t have to take her to your podiatrist.

Having a high instep just makes it a little harder to find shoes that fit. Children with a high instep always have trouble getting their feet all the way inside the shoes, and sometimes the heels don’t sit all the way inside the shoe properly. This is an issue because if you don’t find shoes that are deep enough, your daughter’s feet won’t FIT correctly and besides her feeling uncomfortable this can create all sort of foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.

From what you told me you are unsure about her foot width, and that is a huge issue since shoe length and shoe width have the same importance when it comes to fitting shoes properly. You can’t possibly provide your daughter with the correct shoe size if you don’t know her shoe width.

If you provide me with your daughter’s shoe size (length and width) I can send you what type of snow boot will fit the shape of her feet best.

Thank you,

Juan

Dear Juan,

Thank you for your reply! She is currently wearing a See Kai Run size 7 sneaker.

She was fitted in a size 8 by the shoe store for the winter boot (Kamik) so she wouldn’t grow out of it.

We then returned to the children’s store in Boston and got her a 7 1/2 in this See Kai Run winter boot:

That store hasn’t measured her in a while; we just keep sizing up as she grows.

Thank you so much for your guidance!

Mary

Dear Juan,

I just wanted to add that the purpose of the boot is for walking to school and the grocery store and such (up to 3/4 mile at a time). The main purpose of the boot is to keep my daughter’s feet to stay warm and dry on mostly shoveled surfaces. We will do minimal snow play.

Thank you so much!

Mary

Hello Mary,

I know you have tried some See Kai Run boots before, but this one I have been able to fit for kids with high insteps so you should definitely try it

We will buy this and let you know how they work! Thank you so much for your help and guidance.

Mary

Dear Juan,

Thank you so much, the boot fits the shape of her feet perfectly! Her feet and heels are all the way inside the boots, and she is walking and running so much better.

I don’t understand why this shoe style worked so well and the other ones didn’t when we are talking about the same shoe brand (See Kai Run). I am confused, and I would like to understand this for when I decide to get her shoes online in the future.

Is there a particular everyday sneaker that you would recommend for her?

I am sorry for all the questions, but I have wasted so much time looking for the correct pair of shoes for her that I will rather you tell me which shoe style to get.

Thank you for all your time and patience!

Hello Mary,

I am glad that the boots worked out for her. I had a feeling that what she needed was a deeper shoe due to her high instep.

Please keep in mind that just because a particular shoe brand worked out for your daughter’s feet, it doesn’t mean that all shoe styles among that shoe brand will fit her. Every shoe style fits a little different, even among the same shoe brand. Does this make sense to you?

I knew that shoe style fitted deeper than the others from actually trying the shoes on. This is something you get from experience so there is no way for you to know this unless you have tried the shoes before.

If you need an everyday pair of shoes for your daughter to run around all day, I would recommend something with good support and structure, that is also available in different widths such as wide or extra wide to fit the shape of her feet and accommodate her instep.

Please take a look at an article I wrote where I describe the best shoes for kids with high insteps:

I don’t mind answering your questions, but if you contact me in the future please always provide me with your daughter current shoe size (length and width), that way I can help you better.

I hope this helps!

Dear Juan,

Thank you! I ordered the New Balance style from your recommendations and she loves them!!!

She can put her shoes effortlessly without having to shove them in. I think that they are very deep and I ordered her the extra wide, she said that they are the most comfortable shoes she has ever worn.

If I want to find summer shoes or school shoes, where can I find those articles? I will rather read the articles than having to email you (I feel bad taking all your time).

You have no idea how much time you have saved me!

Hello Mary,

New Balance tends to make very deep shoes, they actually make some of the deepest shoes that I have fitted before. I used to fit a lot of their shoe styles since they tend to fit the best for children who need orthotics.

There is a “Search” option on my homepage where you can type a keyword of what you are looking for such as “summer shoes”, “winter shoes”, ‘school shoes”, “shoes for kids with foot problems”, etc.

Once you type that keyword you would see a list of articles that relate to that keyword.

I think that it’s a good idea that before you email me with questions you check for any articles that might already have the answer to your question.

Here is a snapshot of my homepage where you can find the “Search Bar”:

I am glad that we were able to find everything you needed for your daughter and now you can have the peace of mind that you are keeping her feet and legs healthy!

I also created a tool that you can use in the future in case you ever need a pair of everyday, summer, winter, or sport shoes. This tool is extremely valuable since it will retrieve you shoes in different widths such as narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide. I also tell you exactly how each shoe style is cut (short, long, narrow, or wide) and will let you filter by the instep of your child’s foot. You can even find shoes that will accommodate an orthotic!

STOP BUYING THE WRONG PAIR OF SHOES FOR YOUR CHILDREN.LET’S START TAKING CARE OF THEIR FEET!

I created this webpage to help parents understand the importance that shoes have in healthy foot development and how they can prevent foot problems in the future.Join the rest of the parents who are taking care of their kid’s feet and get my guide for free: 10 Mistakes Parents Must Avoid When Buying Shoes for their Kids.

Join the rest of the parents who are taking care of their kids’ feet and get my guide for free: The 5 Most Common Mistakes Parents Make when Buying Their Kids’ Shoes

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About me

I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for ten years at a premier children’s shoe store specializing in proper fit for over forty years. Every week I help hundreds of children find the best shoes to fit their particular feet. Bones in children are not entirely developed and if a shoe is not properly fitted, then the child’s body’s biomechanics can be altered. It doesn't matter what type of feet your kids have (narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide), there is a style of shoe that will work best for their feet, and you WILL find it here!

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